Science Curriculum Adoption Updates and Open House Invitation

It is an exciting time for science instruction in our district! We are currently in a Science Curriculum Adoption Process for grades K-12. This process will provide new instructional materials and support for all our classrooms teaching science for the 2019-20 school year. Our last elementary adoption was in 1995, middle school in 2002 and high school various times before 2000; not only has science changed significantly in the last twenty years, but we know so much more about how children learn.

Washington State adopted new science standards in 2013, and it is our obligation to our students to align to these new standards. The biggest shift in science instruction has been from “learning about” to “figuring out”where students work through a series of connected lessons anchored in explaining a compelling science phenomenon. This revolution in science education will provide a rigorous, engaging experience for all our students and will ensure they are college and career ready.

Science Instructional Materials Open HouseWe are hosting two Science Instructional Materials Open Houses where we will give you time to review the candidates being considered for adoption by the district, provide information about the new standards and how science will look different for your child, and answer your questions.

February 2, 2019 at the John Stanford Center, 2445 3rd Ave S. (library, second floor)

Elementary: 9 – 11 a.m.

Middle School: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

High School: 1 – 3 p.m.

February 9, 2019 at the Rainier Beach Community Center, 8825 Rainier Ave S.

Elementary: 9 – 11 a.m.

Middle School: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

High School: 1 – 3 p.m.

K-8 and High School Science Instructional Materials Display Instructional materials will be on display in the locations listed below from January 15, 2019 – February 28, 2019. We encourage our community to engage in this process by coming to one of these locations and sharing their input.

K-8 instructional materials will be available in the libraries of the buildings at the following locations during regular school hours:

John Stanford Center, 2445 3rd Ave S

South Shore K-8, 4800 S Henderson St.

Pathfinder K-8, 1901 SW Genesee St.

Salmon Bay K-8, 1810 NW 65th St.

Hazel Wolf K-8, 11530 12th Ave NE

High School instructional materials will be available in the libraries of the schools below during regular school hours:

Chief Sealth High School, 2600 SW Thistle St.

Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave.

Ingraham High School, 1810 N 135th St.

Sincerely,

MaryMargaret Welch, Science Program Manager, and the SPS Science Department